Information on the UK

The United Kingdom, made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is an island nation in northwestern Europe. England – birthplace of Shakespeare and The Beatles – is home to the capital, London, a globally influential centre of finance and culture. England is also site of Neolithic Stonehenge, Bath’s Roman spa and centuries-old universities at Oxford and Cambridge.

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The United Kingdom is a state made up of the historic countries of England, Wales and Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland. It is known as the home of both modern parliamentary democracy and the Industrial Revolution.

Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role in the 20th century, and the 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union has raised significant questions about the country’s global role.

Nonetheless, the United Kingdom remains an economic and military power with great political and cultural influence around the world.

General Information

Fact File

Media

The UK has a strong tradition of public service broadcasting and an international reputation for creative programme-making.

The BBC began daily radio broadcasts in 1922 and quickly came to play a pivotal role in national life. The corporation is funded by a licence fee, which every household with a TV set must pay.

Hundreds of privately-owned radio and TV stations now compete with the BBC for listeners and viewers.

There are many national and local newspapers, but print circulations have been sliding while online readership has surged.

There are more than 60 million internet users, and most British people have a social media presence.

Timeline

Some key dates in British history:

1914 – Outbreak of World War I. UK enters hostilities against Germany.1918 – War ends in November with armistice. The number of UK war dead runs to several hundred thousand.1921 – UK agrees to the foundation of the Irish Free State. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK.1924 – First UK government led by the Labour party under Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.1939 – Germany invades Poland. UK declares war on Germany.1940 – Winston Churchill becomes prime minister.1944 – Allied troops invade France from Britain on D-Day (6th June) and begin to fight their way towards Germany.1945 – Germany surrenders. Labour leader Clement Atlee is elected prime minister to replace Winston Churchill. The new Labour government introduces the welfare state.1945 – The UK becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council.1948 – National Health Service is established.1949 – The UK becomes a founder member of Nato.1960s – Decolonisation of former British-controlled territories gathers pace.1969-1998 – British troops quell communal unrest in Northern Ireland.1973 – The UK joins the European Economic Community.1979 – Conservative Margaret Thatcher begins move towards deregulation of economy.2017 – Britain formally applies to leave the European Union after a referendum vote the previous year.

Useful Information

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